Real Madrid will miss Sergio Ramos for the La Liga game against Sporting Gijon on Sunday. The Los Blancos defender has suffered an injury in his thigh and has not recovered on time to face the Northern-Spain side.
Raphael Varane will replace the Andalusian, pairing in the centre of defense with Pepe. Apart from Ramos, Zidane has all his men available for the game.
The French manager is not expected to make any other changes from last week’s starting eleven. The main doubt is whether he will choose Isco again for midfield or line up James Rodriguez instead. The Spaniard is expected to feature from the start.
Real Madrid dropped two points in the first date of the La Liga season against Sporting and will seek to take revenge.
Abelardo Fernandez’s men are going through a difficult time, having lost their last four games, and it seems highly unlikely that they will have serious chances of winning at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Sporting manager will only miss injured centre-back Bernardo, and Omar Mascarell, who is on loan from Real Madrid and a clause in his contracts prevents him from playing against Los Blancos.
Possible line-ups
Real Madrid Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Sporting Gijon Cuellar; Lora, Hernandez, Mere, Menendez; Cases, Rachid; Ndi, Halilovic, Jonny Rodriguez; Sanabria.
